FF ||Aahat|| Page 21 |Note - Page 3

Chapter 1

"Aaa... aaa..aaa..

Mere saathiya sun, Payal ki run jun..

Mere saathiya sun, Payal ki run jun..

Saath hai apna janam janam ka

Apna hai yeh rishtha saatho janam ka

Nach yeh man mora chanan chanan chan chan!

Mere saathiya sun, Payal ki run jun.. hooo oh..

Mere saathiya sun, Payal ki run jun.."

The melody of her voice empowered the area. The whole land that was spouting with evil spirits, calmed down at once. The negativity nullified as the sounds of her anklets echoed in the land. She confined herself into the boundaries of her room, in the palace that shined at the border. For a moment its as if, time flew back to 200 and odd years before. It was as if the whole land was back at that time, the time where she was happy. The time when she danced like no tomorrow, the time when she had magic in voice that could make anyone look as if they were under her spell and mesmerized by her dance! 200 years later, its still the same. Birds chirp with joy, flowers blossom with glory, animals halt to listen to the melody.

She falls on the floor overwhelmed. Her anklets make one last sound as she starts panting. The world is back to normal; the evil spirits make their way towards the dreaded land and continue to rule the barren land! The flowers shrink and the birds hide in their nests. The animal walks back to its shelter and time is back again to negativity.

And then there is a loud cry as if someone is burning alive. A sudden light erupts out of the palace entrance, as a female figure cries and begs; she was burning alive! The palace gates shuts close while she pleads to save her. She bangs the gates, she roars, she cries in pain. Her eyes turn dark red with hatred, her burning face is unidentifiable, she curses, "No one shall ever step here! I will kill you all! I will come back for my revenge! You will pay for this! Main tum sab ko nahi chodungi! Main intezaar karoongi! Wapas aaoge tum log!!! Aana hi hoga! Aaahh"

*-*-*-*

She jolted back to reality as she took in her surroundings. Nightmares weren't just enough, she had started day dreaming! Great! Just great. She thought. With a deep sigh she opened the water bottle that was kept in the table and emptied its contents on her face. The cold water made her body shiver with goosebumps, she ignored it as long it cleared her aching brain. Letting out deep breaths she chided herself, "Just stop it Aastha! You need to get over this. Yes, you need to get over this!"

"Aastha Ma'am.. Your currier just got delivered" her maid informed her handing her a neatly packed parcel. Aastha dismissed the maid and scrutinized the packet, guessing exactly where it came from and what the content was. She bit her lips and shut her eyes close. The sound of anklets.. A fort beside a river.. Dancing as if no tomorrow.. Clinking sound of swords.. and then someone burning alive. She shook herself freeing from the nightmares. It always scared her.

Her research had led her to the place she couldn't return from. Even today she wondered why the hell she chose to do a research on Indian history, especially Rajasthan folklore! These nightmares, these dreaded dreams were all started the day she had come across a book, a small handbook that had myths and rumors about a place called Roopgarh. And that's it! Her nightmares grew deeper and scarier! Hell she had even started zoning out at random times. Sometimes, she would be in the middle of her class and all of a sudden her mind would go blank, slowly a melodious voice would ring in her ears and images of someone dancing passionately would cloud her eyes. It would then lead to few other incidents! She had seen so many incidents in her dreams, that it frightened her. Was she over-reacting? Was she imagining everything that was written in that book? But she knew better! Even if certain events in her dreams matched to what was written in the book, there was also certain events which was never mentioned in the book at all! How did she dream them? Another surprising fact was, she couldn't see any faces! She couldn't pin point who was who, what was she in the dream, whether she was even there?

"Aastha Ma'am.. You are getting late for your class." The maid informed her bringing her back from her reverie. Clutching the parcel in her hand she got up to go to her evening college.

*-*-*-*-*

Unknown to everything, a young boy sits gloomily in his terrace staring at fort far, far away from his place. The doom of the fort was clearly visible from his terrace, only his house could view the palace. People thought even if the shadow of the palace falls on their house, they would be cursed! Sometimes he wanted to yell at them and say they were in different land, he wanted to tell them they were living in Kishangad and not Roopgarh. Sometimes it got him so frustrated to see everyone gossiping rumors about Roopgarh, rumors about the princess. He just, couldn't accept it like everyone else. He just couldn't accept, someone so divine could ever be a disgrace!

"Arjun Bhai Sa.. Dinner is ready come down!" His little sister, Avni called from downstairs. Arjun sighed, he just didn't believe the rumors! He didn't.

*-*-*-*-*

"Her name was Meera! She was a Chudail, a curse to the Thakur clan!" the guide said to the tourist.

"Did you see it yourself Bhaira?" Arjun strode over to them. Bhaira hit his head, "Arjun Bhai, these are my clients! Leave them to me! Why don't you give your gyaan to your clients, instead of interrupting my work here?"

Arjun chuckled, "telling fake stories? Is that your job Bhaira? Are they paying you to spread false rumors?"

Bhaira grit his teeth, "Bhaira, those were rumors! No one knows the real stories! So please, refrain from spreading these stupid rumors will you?" Arjun chided him.

Bhaira sighed, "he is right, no one knows the real story. It's the myth people believe here. She was then burnt alive in that fort, across the river, on the borders of roopgarh." Bhaira pointed towards the fort whose doom was visible from the ruins of the Main Fort in Roopgarh.

"oh I see, Thank you so much." One of the tourist thanked Arjun, he smiled in return.

"Can we stay a little longer?" Another one from the group asked.

Bhaira was about to open his mouth to say, There are ghost around here which becomes very powerful at night, but Arjun beat him to it, "Am afraid that's not possible, sorry ma'am. ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has made it a rule, and has banned entrance to the fort before sunrise and after sunset. You have to vacate the premises before sunset. Please ma'am" Arjun requested.

"Is it because there is paranormal activity here?" one of them asked.

Arjun sighed, "May be, or May not be. Eyes can deceive people; same eyes can see things that are beyond imaginary. So I don't know. But there is lot of wild animals around here, since its mostly barren land and there is a national park nearby, quite a number of animals come across, it can be very dangerous.. More dangerous than what you believe to be paranormal."

Arjun sighed as the last car of the tourist made their way outside the gates. He checked the register to confirm no one was left inside, once he had verified he let the watchman change his shift with the other, Arjun and Bhaira made their way back to their village. Arjun was the caretaker and personnel Incharge appointed by ASI. He signed his duty form and bid byes to his colleagues. As he started walking, he was once again immersed with deep thoughts, how can someone so divine be evil?

Bhaira sighed, "Arjun Bhai, I think you have read too much about the story.." he commented.

Arjun looked away, he didn't read, he had witnessed something that made his heart froze. How could he even put his experience into words? He had saved a group of 3 tourists last year, he couldn't say it was a normal experience. What he saw, left a deep impression of his heart.

"Array Arjun! Listen.." ASI chief officer, Pradeep came running behind him. Arjun turned around, "Whats wrong?" he asked.

"From tomorrow we will start with the renovations of the second fort in the borders. So we need to fix that broken bridge over the river. Come early tomorrow okay?"

Arjun froze, he didn't want to go there again, but a huge part of him did. He could never understand what this unknown force was! "Alright, I will be there!"

*-*-*-*-*

"Bhai Sa.. Really? This is such good news!!" Sheetal exclaimed, wearing a crimson-red colored saree, She had few grey hairs that was slowly growing in her head. Her long Mangal-sutra was the first attraction. A dignified and pride look on her face said tales about her reputed family.

"Alright Bhai Sa.. We will be there as soon as possible! I am so happy!" Sheetal smiled brightly and kept the receiver back on its hold. Sheetal turned to see the workers engaged themselves in house work. She then spotted her mother-in-law, Kamalavati walk towards her with a knowing smile.

"Let me guess! You are going to Kishangad, Aren't you?" Kamala asked her. Sheetal grinned, "Maa sa, I was wondering why don't we celebrate gangaur festival in Kishangad?"

Maa Sa smiled at her, "I wish, but you know sheetal, my knees are very weak and doctor has asked me not to travel anywhere! The three of you go to Kishangad okay?! Aur phir humein Ma Durga ki pooja dekhna hai, har saal ki tarah iss baar bhi hum ko hi durga ma ki pehli aarti karni hogi.. yeh humara parampara hena bahu!"

"But Maa Sa.. how can I go? Leaving you here all alone?"

"Bahu! How am I alone? There are 20 maids in the Haveli and my Jetaani Sa will be here in a day or two. So you don't worry. Go and have fun! Aastha would be so happy to hear this!!" Kamala Beamed. But Sheetal sighed staring into space. "Whats wrong Bahu?"

"Maa Sa.. I don't know.. Aastha is acting weird these days.. Its been a year already since she is getting those nightmares! She often cries, screams in her sleep. I am worried about her Maa Sa.."

"I am sure its some evil spirit's spell has been casted upon her!" Kamala Grumbled.

"Maa Sa! I was wondering that we should take her to the doctor!" Sheetal suggested.

"Aastha hates doctors Bahu. Don't you know it? Ha! Why don't you take her to Vaidehi?" Kamala suggested. Sheetal would never say a No to that! Vaidehi was a psychiatrist and also a spiritualist. She would be the best one to know whats going on with Aastha.

"Not a bad idea. Vaidehi is already in Kishangad, this is a best opportunity I guess!"

*-*-*-*

The song above mentioned, is "Mere Saathiya" from "Sssh.. Phir koi hai" ( a horror show from star-one). And it will be official song of this story

Please note, if there is lack of response i might not continue it after 3 chapter. so i hope there would be a good response.

And i kindly request the readers to let your friends are other members know about this story, will you? this way i would get readers as well and you will fast updates.

There has to be minimum of 10 readers before chapter 3 for this story to be continued.

Don't misunderstand me, its all about the passion and struggle, it has to be given right encouragement no? readers are required. hope u understand.

Characters will be updated after few chapters. so you don't get confused.

Please add Sunshine_Bliss to your account for pm notifications.